New member here looking for some advice

[Bubbles]

. Which at 4 hours of play a week and 100 hands per hour that 23 weeks faster. which is a big difference.

Welcome to the forum :-).

This is why I pushed myself to learn HiOpt2. The ace side count takes some time to get. While I was trying to get that down I used Zen. I felt it was worth it and still do. Hiopt2 is not the count for everyone. Level one ace reckoned counts work best for people with enough money to stand the higher variance and don't want to be bothered with side counts and varying tags so they can keep it simple for ease and avoidance of more potential errors. They also work better for those who shuffle track and stuff. For those of us with more limited money who don't mind the extra work, HiOpt2 makes sense. Zen is a good middle ground between the two.

I use HiOpt2 on shoes. Everything really. Some people use different counts on shoes and pitch, but I feel that would cause me to have more errors.

Playing heads up with fast dealers who give better pen will also get you to the long run faster. You'll get more rounds in per hour.

Freightman and 3, here, have a snickers. You're not you when you're hungry. :3

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[MSRiver]

Thanks Fenix's. Considering that I have not "mastered" any one count yet then I might as well switch now. If it lowers variance, reduces my spread needed which in turn lowers heat, then I don't see why not. I'm sure I can do it with practice and get it down without thinking about it. It may not be for everyone but I think I'll go ahead and learn it that way I avoid the learning curve of needing to switch counts later on.

[MSRiver]

Well I checked it out. Basically just people saying hi-lo and a guy taking shots at people on here, I assume flash and three. Seems I remember that kwel guy and them dis agreeing. However, the reason why I leaned towards Reko is becasue it's almost identical to Hi-Lo and an easier count to master.

Also to your obvious point about learning Hilo, shouldn't you go with a count that reduces N0? I mean after all isn't it the "long run" that everybody is after? So why go with a count that increases the long run and variance? I mean aren't we all trying to reach our EV by getting to the long run (N0)?

Is it just me or does anybody else find it odd that these "advantage play" forums, other than this one, advertise online casinos so heavily?

[Freightman]

Enjoyed your post Freighteroo. I must concur with the last sentence essential to a better world. However, Freighter with all due respect, sincerely, would you not be more classified as being socially free and fart acceptable?

When in doubt, I go to my Book of Norm. aka Modern Blackjack. Qoute "BC is defined as correlation between card point values and the effect of removal of cards. It is used to predict how well a counting system predicts good betting situations. BC is particularly important in Shoe games."

What is the name of that count you employ again Freighter? How is it working out for you?

I've occasionally cleared the table utilizing my ace reckoned Halves Count System. It can assist by creating heads up situations. In addition to that boring comparison of high to low cards, I've been known to utilize other techniques, which may often prevent me from putting out that big bet which correlates to the count. It is not a Zee like approach, as there is a method to the madness.

That being said, when Jupiter aligns with Mars, betting takes on a Viagra type approach with these enormous phallic type stacks hitting the felt. Such was the case both Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Saturdays display took me out of a hole which the pit had considered, initially, as a house lock for profit. They were disappointed. Sundays display occurred started at about a 2k profit point. The mid type bets of the prior shoe was a seesaw affair with the house. With blessings from Marilyn McCoo, the planets aligned and out came the cannons resulting in a huge one way transfer of chips.

I played through the next 3 shoes, enjoying somewhat less than stellar deck penetration - the most pleasant dealer advising, upon request, that she had been instructed to do so. She did comment upon my obvious deep understanding of the game coup,ed either my apparent ability to read cards. I told her I had only been playing 3 weeks, and was just lucky.

To bad I don't play any of that linear shit stuff. Though, I do hide, on occasion, a large soread utilizing a dual ramp system. I'll learn this game, sooner or later.

https://youtu.be/kjxSCAalsBE

[ZenMaster_Flash]

"learning Hilo, shouldn't you go with a count that reduces N0?"

You'll not get a lower N0 with a count other than Hi-Opt II.

[Freightman]

Probably need a clarification here Norm. Confused is now your statement to confound the understanding to T3s way.

So Freighter. Your a HALVES guy. Suppose I told you can get a 996 BC and a 661 PE by side counting Aces. Is it worth it in a 6 deck game? two deck?

2 deck for sure. 6 deck us debatable and dependant on speed of dealer. If heads up with s dealer who really knows how to motor, I'll drop the sidecounting and go for speed, greasy fast speed.

https://youtu.be/N0GdQyIm7DU

[Luwka]

Are there any exercises or other ways to become a better player (besides the game itself)? For a long time I was thinking about what to do to trade currencies in games that were more profitable. I sold and bought Diablo 3 legendaries and Diablo 3 power leveling, but it was not as profitable as it was at the Path of Exile and trading in PoE currencies or orbs. There are many different and different orbs in the poe, the most popular is the exalted orb, generally exalted orbs are the main currency, followed by Chaos Orb. If you need to buy poe orbs like exalted orbs it will help you, and you can also buy Chaos Orbs. Exalted and Chaos Orbs and New Poe Orbs https://codealo.com/games/path-of-ex...ndard-softcore

[Bubbles]

Are there any exercises or other ways to become a better player (besides the game itself)?

Some people find counting down a deck helpful to get up speed in both counting and canceling cards. Remove two or so cards from a shuffled deck, then count down the deck and compare your ending count with the withheld cards. Try to do this accurately within about 30 seconds. I don't really believe it's that helpful; I put it more in the neat parlor trick category, but many feel it helps their game. Maybe it's helped mine and I just don't realize it?

Norm's Casino Verite is extremely helpful. It can be set up to tell you when you make an error so you can correct yourself. The immediate feedback is great. It can also be set up to create dealer errors. Catching them in Verite helps me catch the in the casino too. I feel this has improved my game more than anything else.

I like to use flash cards to learn and review indices.

Books/blogs/forms/Google. I am constantly reading about AP stuff. There is so much info out there worth knowing.

Networking. Other's can help sharpen your game, help you identify weak spots, and also share knowledge.

[Scuba]

Hmm, thanks for that post therefinery. I've thought about upgrading my count to FELT and have also thought that it might actually not be that difficult.

There is a lot of BS with unbalanced counts. For instance, you do have to keep track of a loonnnnnggg range of numbers, especially in an 8 deck game. That gets kinda boring. It seems to me that a balanced count like FELT would keep things "tighter" so to speak.

Also, it seems the betting ramps would make more intuitive sense rather than having different betting ramps for different numbers of decks and so forth.

[refinery]

Hmm, thanks for that post therefinery. I've thought about upgrading my count to FELT and have also thought that it might actually not be that difficult.

There is a lot of BS with unbalanced counts. For instance, you do have to keep track of a loonnnnnggg range of numbers, especially in an 8 deck game. That gets kinda boring. It seems to me that a balanced count like FELT would keep things "tighter" so to speak.

Also, it seems the betting ramps would make more intuitive sense rather than having different betting ramps for different numbers of decks and so forth.

Yes, those were some of the other aspects I was alluding to. The betting ramp is greatly simplified, and the range of numbers is much smaller. All good things. The types of things that just don't show up in print when people advocate a "simpler" count.

[BoSox]

However, the reason why I leaned towards Reko is becasue it's almost identical to Hi-Lo and an easier count to master.

In the beginning a new player needs to learn about many of the finer points about the game that establishes a great foundation which is extremely important if they want to continue learning. A good way to do this is to start with an easier count, and down the road re-evaluate your situation. Right now we have one player that wants to learn all about using a form of the Tarzan Count meanwhile wonders why pro's split nines. Another poster is happy that he learned the Hi OP 2 count and wrote about having a index that splits 99 vs a 10 up. I call it putting the cart before the horse, try not to do the same thing, think this through.

So why go with a count that increases the long run and variance? I mean aren't we all trying to reach our EV by getting to the long run (N0)?

You also wont have to rely on 15x spreads and the heat that comes with it

Do not believe everything you read. There are so many ways to skin a cat and get to where you want to go. Such as being very creative in finding numerous ways to avoid playing most all of the negative counts, that should be of major concern to everyone. Do your homework thoroughly and find the best conditions to play, that is when you play, not when you want to. This is a hard one, try to find a casino that does not sweat the action, and if you are real lucky find one that also has good rules. The game is like a seesaw in this aspect, for every bad game rule that you face the heavier the counterweight gets, and requires a harder burden to overcome. If your only choice is a lousy game, DO NOT PLAY IT. In all my 30 plus some odd years of playing, I have not played a total "it was a mistake I did not notice"of one hour at a shoe game without both S17, and late surrender offered.

[Freightman]

Bosox
Always with a common sense approach. Don't see much of my sarcasm, longwind of 3, or puffery if flash.

I did chuckle at your comment if never playing a combo of no S17 and no surrender. In my neck of the woods, h17 is legislated. I've actually - never - played S17 - and I will play no surrender given other factors.

For beginners, akwYs an idea to give Bisix posts a second read. In addition to common sense, they tend to get to the point, quickly.

[Bubbles]

I too contemplated writing something about the S17 LS thing. In my neck of the woods it is H17 and surrender is sparse. I can count the times I've played S17 on one hand.

I agree BoSox tends to post good stuff worth reading. Three often does too, though his vague, torturous meanderings detract and often obfuscate its flecks of colour. You write some darn good stuff sometimes too Freightman, even when it's just comic relief. I, right now, am writing while drunk. Wee.